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Albert Pujols to Sign With The Angels

December 8th, 2011 by Jim Field

Albert Pujols will sign with the Angels for ten years and $250-260MM, tweets Yahoo’s Tim Brown. He’ll receive a full no-trade clause. Pujols decided this morning, writes Brown. Pujols is represented by Dan Lozano of Icon Sports Group.

Pujols, 32 in January, was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 in the 13th round and began his career with a staggering 11-year stretch. The first baseman is the active career leader in batting average (.328) and slugging percentage (.617), he’s second among active players in career on-base percentage (.421). Pujols owns a Rookie of the Year award and three MVP awards, and has ranked no worse than ninth in the MVP voting in every season of his career. He’s been extremely durable, averaging 155 games per season. The Cardinals signed Pujols to a long-term deal in 2004, which ended up being a huge bargain at $111MM over eight years. Pujols and the Cardinals failed to find common ground on an extension in February this year, but the contract didn’t seem a distraction as the team ended up winning the World Series.

The suddenly free-spending Marlins made a competitive bid for Pujols this offseason, offering a ten-year deal. They seemingly dropped out after signing Mark Buehrle, and up until Thursday morning, the Cardinals were considered the favorite. It’s not much of a consolation prize, but the Cardinals will receive the Angels’ #19 pick in the 2012 draft as well as a supplemental choice.

With Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo, the Angels now have a couple of first base trade chips. Morales could be non-tendered next week.